Giovanni is a Partner at Medicxi and a member of the co-founding team. Prior to Medicxi, Giovanni was a Principal at Index Ventures for four years, having joined in 2012. He led Medicxi’s investment in Obseva and currently serves on the boards of a number of portfolio companies, including Gadeta, Aura Biosciences, Pearl River and Janpix.

Prior to joining Index, Giovanni was at Cancer Research UK’s London Research Institute (now the Crick Institute) where he conducted research on vascular biology and angiogenesis, whilst also delivering competitive intelligence projects in oncology as an independent consultant to various biopharma.

Giovanni received a BSc in Biochemistry from Imperial College London and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University College London.

Antony is an experienced biotech leader with over 30 years’ experience in the life science industry. He has an impressive track record in progressing programs from discovery, through clinical development and commercial success, and strong capital markets experience. He has held several senior executive positions where he was instrumental in developing medicines that translate innovative science into meaningful clinical outcomes for patients, with extensive experience in CNS, haemato-oncology, immunology, and metabolics. Most recently, he served as CEO of Amphista Therapeutics. Prior to Amphista, Antony was President and CEO of Nasdaq-listed Ocular Therapeutix (OCUL), where he launched the company’s lead asset and brought its potential blockbuster in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wet-AMD) from pre-clinical development into active enrollment in Phase 3. Prior to Ocular, he was Managing Director of Mundipharma and has held senior positions at Novartis and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Antony holds a BA from the University of California at Berkeley and a Masters in International affairs from Columbia University.

Sapna is currently the Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at eGenesis. Prior to eGenesis, she held similar roles as the Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at Abide Therapeutics (acquired by Lundbeck) and at Intellia Therapeutics. In these positions, she has played a key role in equity financings including a successful initial public offering, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and shaping the strategic direction of the company. Before Intellia, Sapna spent more than a decade on Wall Street as a senior biotechnology analyst for Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and ThinkEquity Partners. She began her career as a research associate at J.P. Morgan. Sapna received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the New York University School of Medicine and her B.S. in biology from St. Xavier’s College at the University of Mumbai.

Natalie Holles has served as Chief Executive Officer of Aura Biosciences since April 2026. She has more than 25 years of executive leadership, business development, corporate strategy, and commercial experience gained in a range of therapeutic areas. Prior to Aura, Natalie served as CEO of Third Harmonic Bio from August 2021 through December 2025. Prior to Third Harmonic, Natalie served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Audentes Therapeutics (acquired by Astellas in 2020). She joined Audentes as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in August 2015 and was subsequently promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer in May 2018, and then to President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2020. Prior to joining Audentes, Natalie served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Hyperion Therapeutics (acquired by Horizon Pharma in 2015). Before that, she provided executive-level strategy and business development advisory services to a number of privately held biopharmaceutical companies. Earlier in her career, Natalie served as Vice President, Business Development at KAI Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Amgen in 2012) and held corporate development and commercial roles at InterMune (acquired by Roche in 2014) and Genentech.

Natalie holds an AB in human biology from Stanford University and an MA in molecular, cellular and developmental biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute predoctoral fellow.

Susan Abu-Absi, PhD, is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning technical development, manufacturing, quality and global operations. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Be Biopharma, where she led the company’s operational strategy and execution. Prior to Be Biopharma, she was Chief Technology Officer at 2seventy bio, leading technical development, supply and quality and supporting the commercialization of Abecma® as well as the advancement of multiple cell therapy programs. Previously, Susan held senior leadership roles at bluebird bio, where she played an integral role in the approvals of Zynteglo® and Skysona®, and at Bristol Myers Squibb and Bayer Healthcare. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo.

Jill Hopkins is the Chief Medical Officer and President of Research & Development at Aura. Before joining Aura, Jill served as Senior Vice President, Global Head of Ophthalmology and Exploratory Development at Novartis, and Chief Executive Officer of Gyroscope Therapeutics, a Novartis company, where she was responsible for the global ophthalmic pipeline and portfolio of medicines, gene therapy, devices and digital solutions to impact eye disease and reduce visual impairment globally. Previously, Dr. Hopkins spent over a decade at Roche-Genentech in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as Global Head Ophthalmology Personalized Health Care. Before Roche-Genentech, she spent over 20 years in clinical retinal research and academic practice at the University of Toronto, University of Southern California, and Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group. Jill brings over 30 years of cross-sector experience in ophthalmology, spanning clinical care, academia, education, industry, advocacy, and innovation. Dr. Hopkins received her M.D. from McMaster University and completed her Ophthalmology residency at the University of Toronto. She has completed fellowships in Retinal Disease from Moorfields Eye Hospital in London UK and in Visual Electrophysiology from the Universities of Toronto and Ottawa. Dr. Hopkins is board certified in Ophthalmology from the American Board of Ophthalmology and the Royal College of Surgeons Canada.

Erica Kratz, PhD, is a regulatory affairs and quality executive with more than 20 years of experience leading global regulatory strategy and development quality across the biotechnology industry. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Head of Development Quality Assurance at Denali Therapeutics, where she built and led the team from the company’s first clinical trial through the advancement of multiple programs into the clinic, including the BLA submission and FDA approval of Avlayah® in Hunter Syndrome. Prior to Denali, Erica spent a decade at Genentech, where she led global regulatory strategy for multiple oncology programs spanning early development through commercialization, including U.S. and Canadian marketing applications for Herceptin® in gastric cancer. She holds a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley and a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Arizona.

Julie Person is a human resources executive with more than 20 years of experience leading people strategy and organizational development across the biopharmaceutical industry. Most recently, she served as Chief People Officer at Vera Therapeutics. Prior to Vera, Julie served as Chief People Officer at Third Harmonic Bio and held senior human resources leadership roles at Neumora Therapeutics, Audentes Therapeutics, Sangamo Therapeutics, Shire, Blue Shield of California and McKesson. Her experience spans organizational design, talent acquisition, leadership development, culture and change management, supporting organizations through all stages of growth from early development to commercialization. She holds a BA in Communications from Saint Mary’s College of California.

Amy Elazzouzi is the Principal Accounting Officer, Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer. Prior to this role, Ms. Elazzouzi served in various financial roles at Aura from September 2015 to January 2020. Prior to joining the Aura, Ms. Elazzouzi served as Director of Finance and Operations at KEW Group, Inc. and Controller at AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ms. Elazzouzi received an MBA from Northeastern University and a BA from Regis College.

Patrick Nealon is the Senior Vice President, Clinical Development Operations at Aura. Prior to this role, Patrick served as an Executive Vice President and General Manager, Oncology, at Syneos Health where he was responsible for the overall strategy and direction of the global clinical trials. Patrick also was responsible for the leadership of Syneos’ Clinical Pharmacology and Bioanalysis Business Unit; including two Phase I units and three global bioanalytical labs. He also previously served as the Head, Global Program Management at Servier where he led the program delivery for Shire and Baxalta. Mr. Nealon has also served in several senior leadership roles in clinical operations at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Genzyme Corporation and ZYCOS, Inc. He received his MBA and bachelor’s degree from Anna Maria College.